Airway device

Abstract

An airway device for human or animal use comprising an airway tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of which is surrounded by a laryngeal cuff, wherein the cuff is non-inflatable and is pre-formed in a shape such that a face region of the cuff is adapted to fit snugly over the laryngeal inlet of a patient, and wherein the external profile of the tube is substantially uniform between the distal end of the tube where it starts to meet the cuff and the proximal end of the tube, and wherein the face region of the cuff is formed from a material with a Shore hardness on the A scale of between 0 to 30.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An airway device for human or animal use comprising an airway tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of which is surrounded by a laryngeal cuff, wherein the cuff is non-inflatable and is pre-formed in a shape such that a face region of the cuff is adapted to fit snugly over the laryngeal inlet of a patient, the face of the laryngeal cuff region being preformed from a soft deformable material and shaped to form an anatomical fit over the laryngeal inlet of a patient and which incorporates protuberances that form a good seal with the laryngeal framework of the patient, and wherein the external profile of the tube is substantially uniform between the distal end of the tube where it starts to meet the cuff and the proximal end of the tube, and wherein the face region of the cuff is formed from a material with a Shore hardness on the A scale of less than 30. 
     
     
       2. An airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the face region of the cuff is formed from a material of Shore hardness on the A scale of between 0 and 20. 
     
     
       3. An airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cuff is formed from a material of Shore hardness on the A scale of between 0 and 5. 
     
     
       4. An airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the profile of the airway tube is substantially circular. 
     
     
       5. An airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the profile of the airway tube is substantially elliptical. 
     
     
       6. An airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the device further comprises a gastric tube passageway extending from the proximal end of the airway tube to the distal end of the cuff. 
     
     
       7. An airway device as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the gastric tube passageway is housed substantially within the body of the device. 
     
     
       8. An airway device according to  claim 6  wherein the distal end exit of the gastric tube passageway exits the cuff centrally, that is along the line of the central longitudinal axis of the device. 
     
     
       9. An airway device according to  claim 6  wherein the distal end exit of the gastric tube passageway is displaced to one side of the central longitudinal axis of the device. 
     
     
       10. A device according to  claim 1  wherein the device further comprises one or more flexible flanges extending around the opening in the face region of the cuff. 
     
     
       11. A device according to  claim 10  wherein the flexible flanges extend substantially around the entire circumference of the opening in the cuff. 
     
     
       12. A device according to  claim 10  wherein a plurality of flanges are provided said flanges being spaced apart radially around the opening one from another such that the flanges are substantially concentric. 
     
     
       13. A device according to  claim 1  wherein said device further comprises a connector adapted to connect the proximal end of the airway tube to a gas supply. 
     
     
       14. A device according to  claim 13  wherein said connector extends into said airway tube and at least part way along the length of said airway tube to act as a bite protector to prevent a patient from constricting the airway tube by biting on it. 
     
     
       15. A device as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said connector fits into an internal annular recess at the proximal end of the airway tube such that the diameter, or internal cross-section of the airway tube where the tube is non-circular internally, remains substantially constant along the length of the tube when the connector is in place. 
     
     
       16. An airway device according to  claim 15  wherein the distal end of the connector abuts in use a shoulder in the airway tube to prevent the connector from passing into the airway tube beyond a certain point. 
     
     
       17. An airway device according to  claim 1  wherein the face of the laryngeal cuff is adapted to form an anatomical fit over the laryngeal inlet of a patient incorporates protuberances designed to form a good seal with the pyriform fossae and aryepiglottic folds of the laryngeal inlet of the patient. 
     
     
       18. An airway device according to  claim 17  wherein the face of the laryngeal cuff adapted to form an anatomical fit over the laryngeal inlet of a patient incorporates protuberances designed to form a good seal with the valleculae, epiglottis, aryepiglottic folds, pyriform fossae and around the thyroid & cricoid cartilages. 
     
     
       19. An airway device according to  claim 1  wherein the face of the laryngeal cuff adapted to fit anatomically over the laryngeal framework of a patient incorporates grooves designed to allow passage of vital arteries, veins and nerves supplying the laryngeal framework. 
     
     
       20. An airway device according to  claim 1  wherein the distal tip of the laryngeal cuff is so sized and shaped as to remain above the upper oesophageal sphincter in use. 
     
     
       21. An airway device according to  claim 20  wherein the distal tip of the laryngeal cuff is substantially concave in shape. 
     
     
       22. An airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the face of the laryngeal cuff and the airway tube are formed from material of substantially the same Shore hardness. 
     
     
       23. An airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the face of the laryngeal cuff and the airway tube are formed from materials of different Shore hardness. 
     
     
       24. An airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the airway tube together with the back or dorsal part of the cuff are made from material of one Shore hardness and the face of the cuff is made from a material of a different Shore hardness, such that the face of the cuff is made of a softer material than the airway tube and the back or dorsal part of the cuff.